“Even if you’re only walking around your neighborhood — and a great way to start running is by walking first — it’s important to move from the gym to the great outdoors,” he writes.

Number nine: Find the right shoes.

Eight: Take it slow.

Seven: Pace your goals accordingly.

Six: Be safe, don’t chafe.

Five: Don’t run alone.

Four: “Experiment with wacky trends.”

Three: Make a plan.

Two: “One more thought about shoes.”

And finally, number one on Kaplan’s list is “The path can lead toward positive mental health.”

“In psychology, the term ‘mastery,’ is a feeling a person experiences as they notice incremental improvement,” Kaplan points out. “Not surprisingly, mastery, even at something as repetitive as running, feels good.”

Duncan Larkin

Duncan Larkin is a freelance journalist and author who’s been covering the sport of running for over a decade. He’s run 2:32 in the marathon and won the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race in 2007. He wrote the book RUN SIMPLE, and coaches runners of all abilities.
You can learn more about him here: http://roadsmillslaps.tumblr.com/about